Värpinge Wetland
As part of the ISWIM project, there is a focus on space-efficient, resource-efficient, and advanced treatment of large flows of stormwater from urban areas. New technology for managing larger flows will be tested at the Värpinge wetland test site in Lund.
In Värpinge, located in western Lund, VA SYD is constructing a wetland with a pre-sedimentation pond to purify large flows of stormwater from the surrounding built environment. Adjacent to the wetland, a test site is being developed to enhance knowledge and test new technologies for stormwater purification.
A map of Lund indicating the location of the Värpinge wetland and the Rinnebäcksdammen
Värpinge Wetland
The facility is an artificial wetland aimed at purifying pollutants such as particulate and dissolved metals, nutrients, organic substances, and more. The wetland system consists of a pre-sedimentation pond followed by the wetland. In the pre-sedimentation pond, purification primarily occurs as larger particle-bound pollutants settle to the bottom. In the subsequent wetland, further purification takes place through the sedimentation of smaller particles as well as through plant uptake and other biological processes that will reduce the levels of dissolved pollutants.
A drawing of the Värpinge pond shows the intended design
The wetland’s catchment area is approximately 100 hectares and is located in western Lund. Slightly more than half of the area consists of commercial and industrial zones, while the rest comprises residential areas, parks, forests, and agricultural land. This contributes to high levels of pollutants in the Höje River in southern Lund, which the stormwater facility aims to reduce.
The pre-sedimentation pond followed by the wetland
Värpinge Wetland Test Site
In parallel with the constructed wetland, a test site is being developed. This site will have well-placed infrastructure to enable testing of various stormwater treatment techniques. The purpose of the test site is to facilitate technological advancement by serving as a testing ground for current and future issues in stormwater purification. The characteristics of stormwater vary greatly, both between different rain events and within a single rain event. By enabling tests on “live” and actual stormwater under real conditions, such as cold and heat, it is possible to observe how the techniques and treatment methods perform in a more realistic environment before they are applied to the sewer network and in densely populated urban areas.
A schematic image of the wetland and the test site
From Idea to Prototype
ISWIM will test new technology for treating larger stormwater flows at the Värpinge test site. To determine which technology to test, the project has conducted a design sprint to develop prototypes based on:
- Technical emission requirements
- Practical application
- Economics
- Space limitations
- Public acceptance
Timeline
The pond and wetland were completed in December 2024. The test site is yet to be build.
The Värpinge wetland has been constructed with partial funding from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.